Stuart Smalley I'm NOT!!!

[Guest guest]

But....now that I'm four years into my WLS, there is a LOT to be said for

positive reinforcement within your household...but most importantly, within

you. Yep, I do have a daily affirmation that I repeat to myself...it's

something to give me focus when I wake up each morning and reminds me that

there is only one person to screw up the effects of my WLS...that person

being me.

Slipping into bad habits is waaaaay too easy. A lapse is a short ordered

thing that by habit can turn into a relapse...unfortunately, we are critters

of habit. Fortunately, we are critters of habit too...because we can have

positive habits right along with the not-so-positive habits. Recognizing

what the bad habits are is Job One....being able to put them in front of you

so you recognize them when you're getting ready to order a meal; or snatch

up something well out of the your personalized approved food or quantity

list...or laying on your back when the alarm goes off instead of getting up

to EXERCISE (there's that E word!! ).

I think that some of the failings that I've witnessed personally as well as

with members of this group and our local bunch of " losers " here in Atlanta

is an inability to put the appropriate amount of focus on this task. Task

is a good word because it equates to work...and this is work; don't ever let

anyone tell you that you took an easy way out. Fortunately, RnY makes it

considerably easier to deal with than going stark cold turkey...but people

do succeed at cold turkey regimens, just not as often as the World would

like. We on the other hand can optimize our new " plumbing " ...but just like

anything else, one has to maintain themselves in order to allow the WLS to

benefit us.

Silly as it may seem...simply reaffirming your daily goal, putting it in

your mind before anything else takes precedence...should be something to do,

or at least to try. I can't emphasize enough the need for being selfish and

self-absorbed when it comes to this life long pursuit now. Friends, family

and employment will have to take second place to your weight loss and

maintenance goals. Friends, family and employment will be more than happy

to wile you away because you provide a benefit to them....provide a benefit

to yourself first and foremost. Much like the safety announcement on all

the Commercial air carriers.... " should that mask drop down in front of

you....put it on YOURSELF first!!! " Others will take care of themselves,

it's a guarantee.

So, lads and lasses....I hate to read about folks that fall into despondency

when they begin to gain weight or go into the " I've lost control " mode...as

too many take the WLS procedure as the Last Measure of Defense. It's

not...it's another avenue of attack that many of us have found success with.

It's not the panacea for the rest of your life...once the WLS gets you where

you bottom out...you've got to get off your bottom and take care of the

rest. I've slipped and slid down the slippery slope a number of

times...move on and get ready for the next failings; with the exception of

Sue R. and Vitalady...we're only human. And as simple as it may seem...a

simple " Board Meeting " with the chairman each morning with regards to events

from yesterday and plan of attack for today...gives you focus and an angle

of attack to pursue.

Silly? Not really. Silly would be blowing $20,000 for WLS and then winding

up back at square one...and that event does happen. The old adage about a

" failure to plan is actually planning to fail " applies here...you've got to

adjust and keeping fine tuning yourself for the rest of your life now. When

you hit your basis weight...it's a whole lot easier to maintain than to gain

and take it back off; so plan ahead by just telling yourself in affirmation

each morning what you will and won't be doing in this regards. That

creature of habit will sooner or later make it automatic.

Do a quick sorting out each morning while getting awake and I think you'll

be pleasantly surprised...it does work for me.

Good luck, eat healthy...get out there and do your Cardio!!

Dan

rny 10.13.98

EdWaits,MD-Atlanta

" because I'm swell enough, smart enough and some people pretend to like me! "